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| Details |
| Author: | Luridel |
| Summary: | White Squad agrees to help Chen Stormstout make a brew to prove that he's the best brewer alive. Gwen is back to work, but Estel takes the lead for today. Iphindra befriends an otter. The otter befriends Alysson. Alysson names the otter. The Grainlord does not approve of smiling. Pookie is very strong. In a sad cave beneath a sad cliff, the team collects some malted cave barley, which Blizzard has decided is a thing that exists. Mudmug is stronger than Pookie. A green dragon turtle begins his enemies-to-friends arc with Alysson. ~4.8k words. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
"Hi!" Iphindra runs into the inn, waving at Estel. "I- is Gwen okay?"
Estel waves back. "She's out of bed today!"
Gwenivene descends from the upper floor of the inn, moving carefully, but with a warm smile on her lips. "Hey, everyone!"
"Hey, Gwen!" Estel grins.
Alysson smiles and looks up from polishing a melon — because that is what one does with melons. "Ho there Cobaltians, an' Gwen, good to see you up an' about!"
"Thanks. It feels good to be up and about!" Gwen says.
Iphi turns as Gwen answers her question herself. "Gwen, hi!" Iphi runs up to her and takes her hand, if she'll let her. "Its go- good to see you doing better!"
Gwen squeezes Iphindra's hand. "Between you, Estel, and the pandaren healers, I feel like I've bounced back a thousand times faster. I'm still a bit tired, but I'm eager to get back out in the field with you."
"Shun's still supporting Stromgarde," Estel says. "So he won't be here today. Gwen, d'you want me to keep…" She waves a hand vaguely.
Gwenivene nods emphatically to Estel. "Please. I think it would be wise for me to ease back into things. I'd like you to continue taking the lead for now, Estel."
Estel smiles at her. "Got it. Okay."
"For a while there you were like one o' them sleepin' princesses, from the stories," Alysson says.
Gwen giggles at Alysson.
"Wanna go see if Li Li's uncle is back yet?" Estel asks.
Iphi nods, beaming. She throws her long braid back from her shoulder, sending pollen flying everywhere. Flowers bloom on everybody's head and shoulders. You've been [Mark of the Wild] blessed. Everybody's a little stronger.
Gwen takes out her hat and puts it on, rotating it into a Determined position. "Let's do it!"
Estel fetches Menace, who looks bored.
Iphi gets on her polar bear, which, somehow, isn't as much of a menace as Menace.
Gwen carefully mounts Gethennis.
[Estel]: "Gwen, Li Li's been stayin' at this brewer's house - uh, Mudmug, his name is. Chen went off in search of a brewery with his family name on it. Stormstout Brewery."
"It must be exciting for him, possibly reconnecting with long distant relatives!" Gwen beams.
"Mhm," Iphi answers, a little unconvinced.
"We made a drink with real mud in it," Alysson confirms.
Gwen tries to smile, but her nose wrinkles in distaste.
They arrive to find Chen sitting moodily by a boulder and sulking.
"Hey, he's back!" Alysson waves.
Gwen waves excitedly. "Chen, Li Li! So good to see you both again."
"You guys are back!" Li Li waves to them. "I've been bored out of my mind. Uncle Chen's been…"
"I don't want to talk about it," Chen says moodily.
"Oh?.." Iphi's ears droop. "Did it not go well? Would you rather… Wri- write about it?"
"Did you at least find the place, Uncle Chen?" Li Li asks.
"Yes, I found it. But I didn't get exactly the warm reception I expected," Chen grumbles. He pours himself a mug of ale. "Well, since you're all here… Do you want to hear the story?"
"Yeah!" Alysson says. "Yeah?"
Iphi looks at the others. He said he didn't want to talk about it, then offered to tell them about it. Does it mean he's going to sing about it? Anyway, she's excited for it. SHe sits next to them to hear the story.
Estel gathers around.
[Chen]: "I found the brewery and made my way inside. I decided to look around for someone else from the Stormstout family. And I found one! But he said… 'Sorry, we aren't accepting visitors right now.' Still, I approached."
Chen imitates the voice of the other pandaren: "Are you deaf? We aren't allowing anybody in the brewery right now."
[Chen]: "I am no visitor, I am Chen Storm-"
[Chen]: "But he cut me off and said, 'You should leave.'"
[Chen]: "But we are family. I am a Stormstout! From the Wandering Isle…"
[Chen]: "And he said very rudely, 'Are you deaf? We aren't allowing anybody in the brewery right now.'"
[Chen]: "'There is no need to speak to me that way,' I said."
[Chen]: "But then I noticed a strange elemental approaching. 'Wait - what is going on behind you!?'"
Iphindra gasps.
[Chen]: "He tried to shoo me off. 'Huh?! That's… that's nothing! Now GO AWAY!'"
[Chen]: "But then the elemental attacked. I had no choice but to defend myself."
"Huh," Estel says.
Alysson listens wide-eyed. Heroics!
[Chen]: "I was shaken, but I did not give up. I pursued the strange old brewer to ask him some questions."
[Chen]: "'Come, speak with me!' I said when I caught up to him. 'Let's sit down and talk. Have a beer together…'"
Chen imitates the voice of the old brewer again, very huffy: "There will be no sitting. No talking. And none of your horrible beer!"
Gwen frowns in sympathy at Chen.
"Horrible?!" Iphi gasps. "Bu- but pandaren love beer…"
[Chen]: "And then he pointed and said, 'Hey, what's that behind you?!' There was something behind me. A very drunk hozen! I fought him off."
Chen gets up to mime out how cool his fighting moves were against the hozen.
Alysson stands as well, trying to copy him. With sound effects.
[Chen]: "First beer elementals, and now a hozen attack? Something was very wrong." Chen sits back down. "I decided to give him one more chance. I was not about to give up on family. I chased him further inside the brewery…"
Once again, Chen imitates the old man's grumpy voice: "How many times must I tell you… GO AWAY!"
[Chen]: "I don't understand, old man. What have I done to upset you?"
In the old man's voice again: "It's not what you've done, it's who you are. You are not welcome here, 'Chen Stormstout.'"
[Chen]: "That was all I needed to hear. Shunned… by my own blood! I turned and left."
Iphindra frowns sadly at that.
Alysson visibly loses a measure of his cheer, his shoulders drooping. "Oh," he says.
"Rude," Li Li says.
Chen sighs glumly. "Maybe I wasn't meant to settle down anyhow."
Gwen whispers, "I'm so sorry, Chen…."
"Aw, hey, don't get to that conclusion from this one, yeah?" Estel shakes her head.
"Do you want us to go speak with him?" Iphi says. "I- I won't let him speak to you like that without explaining anything!" She seems fired up.
"Sometimes it's a phase," Alysson says. "The runnin' phase, it's called. We can help!"
Gwen nods. "It does seem like something strange is going on there. Something dangerous, even. Beer elementals and hozen attacks? Something isn't right."
Chen drinks some more beer and then looks up, his eyes narrowed. "You know what? I don't have to take this! I'll show that Uncle Gao what it means to be a real brewer. I'll brew the best beer he's ever tasted, with ingredients I've never even used before! I'm Chen Stormstout, and I'm the best brewer alive!" He chugs the last of his beer and climbs to his feet. "I'll meet you in Halfhill, across the river."
Apparently Chen knows the name of the old man from his story. He didn't include an introduction in his story, but it was nice of him to tell us now, at least. Or maybe Chen can read Name Hats.
"Finally!" says Li Li. "There's the Uncle Chen I've been waiting for!"
Chen grins at her. "Let's go, Li Li!"
Iphi cheers. "Le- let's show him how it's done!"
Estel watches them take off. "Oh, shit," she mutters, and goes to pull Menace away from Mudmug's fields. "Oi. You don't eat that. That ain't yours."
The ram snorts. She eats what she wants.
"D'you suppose this place has got a 'Wholehill' too?" Alysson asks as the pandaren run off.
"Y'know, it might!" Estel shrugs.
They ride out!
Iphi giggles at Alysson, then she gets on her polar bear's back. It's staying VERY FAR from Menace at all time. The bear fears the ram's aura.
Estel pauses by a sign that is in viewing distance of the river and the settlement across the river.
"Even without reading this," Estel says, and glances at Halfhill right over there.
"It's a halfhill!" Alysson declares.
"That's probably it, right?" Estel glances at Gwen.
Iphi nods.
"Let's go find out!" Gwen nods.
"Okay, let me find somewhere to tie up Menace where she won't eat anybody's livelihood," Estel mutters as they ride across the bridge into Halfhill.
Halfhill is a settlement on a hill. Whether it is a whole-sized hill or a half-hill is a matter of opinion. There are some goats hanging about. Eventually, they find an inn where a stable master is willing to take Menace.
Alysson tries to pet the big green dragon turtle.
Iphi leaves her polar bear near a riding crane, with the stable master. "Don't eat anyone, all right? I trust you!" The polar bear growls gently.
The big green dragon turtle tries to bite Alysson's hand off.
Fortunately, Alysson is quick, and he grins at it. "Aw, I think he likes me!" he says.
Chen and Li Li are standing not far outside the inn. Chen greets White Squad with a grin, rubbing his hands together. "Friends! Let's make some beer!"
The dragon turtle is watching you, Alysson…
"First things first," says Chen. "We're going to need some sweet malts."
"You can find your malts at the granary, I reckon," says a familiar voice behind them. Mudmug jogs up the hill.
"Mudmug!" cries Chen.
Mudmug grins. "I'm here to help with that fancy beer you was talkin' about."
“Glad to have you!” beams Chen. “We’ll be making a stout. Can you get a few barrels of water?”
"Git ‘er done!" says Mudmug. This is presumably acquiescence.
"Li Li," Chen says, "you go to the granary and get the malts. I will… research the local brews. We'll meet back here."
Li Li eyes her uncle. "Research? Sure."
"It is the wanderer's way," Chen says solemnly.
"A s- stout from Stormstout!" Iphi says, smiling.
Estel gives Mudmug a thumbs-up.
Li Li waves cheerfully and maybe just a touch sarcastically and heads for the southern road.
Chen smiles at White Squad. "I will let you in on my brewing plan. I'm planning to make an Emperor Stout — done right, it should be nicely dark and roasty." He frowns abruptly. "I just realized… I didn't tell my plans to Li Li! She'll have no idea what type of grain to bring back! Can you go after her to the granary? I need her to bring back the sweetest malted grains she can find."
"Emperor…" Alysson whispers excitedly.
"Sounds fancy," Estel says. "Sure, okay."
"Sweetest grains." Iphi nods. "Go- got it!"
Li Li is running really fast for someone who has such short legs.
Estel jogs after her at a slower pace that Gwen can keep up with.
The Imperial Granary appears to be in chaos. Cackling sprites race back and forth, chasing each other up piles of grain and flinging it in fistfuls. The predatory hawks that made young Francis the shepherd miserable are here in numbers too; evidently sheep are not the only thing they eat, as now and then one of them takes off with an entire sack of grain in its talons.
"Looks like we've got a situation," Alysson says.
Near the steps of the granary tower, Li Li waits with two dismal-looking pandaren laborers. She turns and blinks. "Oh, hey, guys! What are you doing here?"
"Your uncle wa- wants us to get the sweetest grains!" Iphi repeats.
"Sweet malts? No problem! Let's get to taste testing!" Li Li hesitates. "Although… now that you're here, you might as well help me out? I'm feeling a little underqualified, seeing as I've never drank a drop of beer in my life. But we can try a little sample of each of these grains and maybe figure out between ourselves which one seems sweetest?"
"Is that how it works? Sure." Estel shrugs. "I like free samples."
The pandaren on the left clears his throat. "Travelers! I am Grainlord Kai. If you're planning to look around the granary, I don't suppose I could hire you for a little side job?"
"Grainlord…" Iphi repeats, kind of jealous of that title.
"Oh! You totally could. We're from Cobalt Company." Estel smiles and gestures to her friends. "I'm Estel. This is Iphindra, Gwen, and Alysson."
"Side quests are part of a hero's duties," Alysson says, nodding.
He's right.
Grainlord Kai flinches as a sprite throws a heavy sack of grain from the roof of the granary and it lands behind him in the dirt. He stoically does not look at either the sack or the sprite.
[Grainlord Kai]: "So… we bought some cheap grains in bulk. It turns out the grain was infested with sprites. I hate sprites. With their wee beady eyes and their constant… smiling. I would like to resolve this quietly. Can I buy your services to discreetly eliminate some of these grain thieves?"
Alysson sloowly stops smiling. Smiling is bad, apparently.
"We have some experience dealing with sprites," Gwen says.
Iphi stops smiling as well. She looks confused.
"Uh, totally," Estel says. "Technically I think you pay the office and then we get a portion but I can, uh, handle that part."
"Just to be clear," says the other man, glowering at Grainlord Kai, "what happened was an accident. What I did, I did for industry! There was no way I could have known that a sprite invasion would happen at any time, or that one of them would try to eat my new ‘Pan's Miracle Gro' formula." He turns to look at White Squad as Grainlord Kai folds his arms angrily. "Now not only do they have a big sprite leading them, but he's one angry beast. If we pay you — "
Grainlord Kai scowls and the second man clears his throat and amends. "If I pay you, will you take him out as well?"
"Yeah, absolutely." Estel smiles. SHE is not undeterred by any one pandaren's hatred of smiling. She can smile if she wants to.
Li Li looks at the others. "Well, the fighting's all you!"
Estel gives Li Li a thumbs-up and slips into Shadowform for the first time around her.
"Cool," Li Li says. "Bring me back some samples."
Estel eats some grain and makes a face. "Bitter." She doesn't bother to take a sample for Li Li. That's clearly not the one.
Iphi places her ear against a bag of grain. "Hmmm… Yo- you're right. It sounds angry…"
Alysson immediately tries some after her. "It is!" he confirms.
The description of the next bag of grain is "This grain has too much zing." None of us wrote that.
Iphi giggles as she listens to the next bag of grain. "I- it's sweet, but maybe it has… too much energy."
Estel takes a sample for Li Li.
Estel nods to Iphi as they find another type of grain.
Iphi places her ear against another bag of grain. "Hmmm," she says. "V- very wise, this one."
"Okay, but is wise sweet?" Estel tries some. "Nope."
Iphi nods.
Iphi, listening to another bag. "Oh, th- this one feels young. H- happy go lucky! It's either that one or t- two before!"
"Okay," Estel says, and takes a sample for Li Li.
"Now where's this big sprite at…" Estel dodges a flying sack.
Inside the brewery, a large sprite attacks them with a shovel.
"There he is, Lord o' the Grains," Alysson declares.
"N- no the Lord of the Grains is outside!" Iphi corrects. "Grainlord, he s- said!"
Estel kicks Cornan the Barley Barbarian (this is his name, we did not make that up either) down a flight of stairs.
"But that fellow's a pandaren," Alysson says, frowning. "And he's mean. He hates smilin'."
"Th- that's why he's a lord!" Iphi explains.
Estel tosses a shovel at Grainer Pan's feet. "We got 'im."
"Thank you," sighs Grainlord Kai. "You have done us a great service, friends." He offers out a coin purse and shoots a malevolent look at Grainer Pan, who reluctantly produces a purse of his own.
Estel collects them both and passes them to Gwen. "Can you send these to the office?"
Gwen nods, taking the purses before conjuring up her arcane familiar and passing them off.
Li Li accepts her two grain samples from Estel and tries them one at a time. "Huh… nah."
"Neither of them?" Estel groans.
"Maybe we missed somethin'?" Alysson asks.
Iphi's ears droop. "I didn't listen to enough grain…"
"Hang on," says Li Li. "So none of that grain is going to work. Uncle Chen is pretty picky." She looks Grainlord Kai up and down and folds her arms. "Hey, Grainlord, sir? Since we've been such a big help and all, maybe you could tell us something: How come all your grain is so bland?"
Estel looks innocent. Li Li said it, not them.
Grainlord Kai does not look offended. "The grain we gather needs to be in large, consistent quantities for the brewery. But I may know of a grain that would suit your needs."
He lowers his voice as though he is preparing to relate a ghost story. "If you are looking for sweet grain, my father once mentioned a malted cave barley that sounds about right. If you are willing to brave the peril…"
"It's 'cause there's no smilin' here," Alysson whispers.
"Some of the gra- grain seemed pretty happy regardless…" Iphi whispers back.
"I mean, yeah," Estel says. "We can brave whatever, sure."
Grainlord Kai nods. "There is an ancient cave at the base of the Winds' Edge cliffs, south of here. There is an old rope lift there that my father made for his excursions into the jungle. It should not yet be too badly rotted. Inside the cave, you will find a bush as old as my family. From that bush you can pluck a grain so sweet it will humble your senses."
"And if you are heading that way," the Grainlord asks hopefully, "can you try to recover some of our grain that these thieves have run off with? Birds and sprites have been carrying entire bags of our best bulk stock into the fields east and south of here."
"That sounds heavy," Estel says, looking at her team. "But… sure."
Iphi looks at Gwen's familiar.
"Pookie can carry some!" Gwen volunteers. "She's got broad shoulders."
Alysson stares at Pookie. "I thought she was all arms," he says.
Gwen giggles. "It's true, a lot of her is arms."
Estel laughs.
They make a couple trips back to drop off some of the stolen grain. Pookie is a grain-carrying champion.
As they walk past a river, an otter jumps and latches onto Iphi's leg. "Hi! Do you want grain?"
The otter receives grain, and then begins following Iphi around. She giggles.
"Awwwwww. Hey, little guy." Estel smiles at the otter.
Alysson stops to pet their new companion.
The otter looks at Estel, then holds Alysson's hand gently as he pets it.
Estel audibly gasps. They're holding hands.
"What's your name lil fellow?" Alysson asks.
The otter doesn't answer, it does not speak. It makes otter noises at Alysson.
Alysson tries to mimic the noises.
"He's a wild animal," Iphi nods. "He d- doesn't have a name!"
"Then he shall henceforth be known as, Lord Cuddlems the Eighth!" Alysson declares.
Estel snort-laughs.
"That's adorable." Gwen giggles.
Estel drops a heavy sack of grain near Grainlord Kai.
Iphindra translates this to the otter. He accepts his name with great honor. He has no idea what that means.
"Alright, Pookie," Estel says, nodding to the little familiar. "Grain goes here."
Grainlord Kai nods with relief. "Thank you very much, strangers. This has not been a good day, but you've certainly made it better, at least. Did you find the cave barley?"
Estel looks at him. "You think we'd be climbing down a cliff to a cave while carrying all this grain?"
"Ah." Grainlord Kai nods, understanding.
"Nah, we're off to do that now. Cheers." Estel waves.
Lord Cuddlems the Eighth is neck deep inside a mountain of grain, eating. "Come with us!" Iphi calls to him cheerfully. He follows.
"Cave barley, cave barley, cross a river, down a cliff, cave barley, cave barley, go!" Alysson sings.
Estel tosses out a handful of spectral feathers to levitate the group across the river.
At the cliff's edge, seated beside an ancient coil of rope, is a doleful one-eyed pandaren. "Hello," he greets the group with apparent unsurprise. "My name is Shai. They tell me to watch the cliff. Sometimes cubs come because of a dare. Sometimes grown-ups come because they are curious. I tell you what I tell them: The cliffs are sad, and the jungle is even more sad. You may go down if you like, but know it is a very sad place."
"I- Is it?" Iphi tilts her hand, pensively.
"Huh, okay," Estel says, blinking at him. "Thanks for the warning. Is there a cave down there?"
Shai nods.
Alysson frowns. "Is this 'cause of another no smilin' fellow? We met one o' them back at the granary."
Shai shakes his head to Alysson but does not explain what causes it if not a no-smiling fellow.
"We're a cheerful bunch," Gwen says. "I think together we can stave off the sadness."
"Especially since Gwen has a staff to stave it off with," Alysson says, grinning.
"Yeah." Estel looks at Gwen. "Can you slow-fall us down? I don't trust that rope."
"Of course!" Gwen gestures precisely, weaving a slow-falling spell on each of them.
Iphi listens to a bag of grain next to them. "Th- the grain is enchanted for slow falling too!"
Estel steps carefully off the cliff and drops. Slowly.
The air inside the cave is thick and stifling. Very gloomy.
The otter awaits them on top of the cliff, not wanting to jump off with them.
Alysson shivers. "Hey, uh, what say we get the goods an' get out of here?"
Iphi is looking a little pale, plants on her head withering slightly. "I- I don't like it here too…"
Estel opens an empty sack. "Okay. Let's… get some weird grain, I guess." Grain goes in sack!
As they gather their grain, they are attacked by a bunch of spooky one-eyed creatures that have camouflaged with the walls! They have grey flesh and moss or fungus dripping down their arms.
One of the creatures suffocates the already fragile looking Iphindra with a spell, filling her lungs with the weird cave air.
"Fucking hell," Estel mutters, and tendrils of Shadow reach up from the rock, wrapping around the feet of the cave horrors to root them in place and keep them away from her.
Alysson jumps into action, once again with sound effects, mimicking Chen, he thinks. "Patty-Cake Palm!" he shouts, slapping one of the horrors.
Iphi falls to a knee, breathing again. She summons a moonbeam and blasts one of the creatures with it.
Gwen stays back, in no condition to physically engage the horrors. But from afar she unleashes a barrage of arcane missiles.
When the cave horrors are defeated, Estel ties off the sack of grain and passes it to Pookie.
"So now we're… climbin' the rope back up?" Alysson guesses.
"Yeah," Estel says. "It's bad in here."
It is bad in the cave. That is true.
Gwen takes in a lungful of fresh air as they exit the cave. "Oh, that's much better."
Iphi fully breathes again once they get out of the cave.
Shai lowers the rope for them.
It is a long climb up the cliff, but Shai helps pull them up one at a time.
Lord Cuddlems the Eighth pulls on the rope with his teeth. He's helping.
"Okay, let's tell Li Li," Estel says, once everybody's up safely.
Lord Cuddlems the Eighth swims behind them as they float above the river again. Then, he stands on his hind legs in front of the floating Alysson. He demands uppies.
Grainlord Kai nods as they return with the legendary cave grain. Surely it is normal grain and not some kind of fungus. Right?
Estel opens the sack to let Li Li inspect.
Li Li takes a handful of the barley and sniffs it, then breaks into a broad grin. "Now this smells like the right stuff! Uncle Chen is going to love this. Or… he might tell us to find something sweeter. He's kind of dumb like that. Anyway, let's get this back to Halfhill!"
Estel secures the sack in Pookie's strong arms again.
They return to Halfhill. Li Li tries to make it a race, but she still arrives with them.
Chen goes to take the sack. "Sweet grain?"
"It's from a secret cave," Li Li says.
"Th- the sweetest!" Iphi nods.
Chen sniffs. "You have some good noses. This is perfect!"
"Listen, friends," Chen says. "If you have time, would you mind checking on Mudmug? He may need some assistance bringing all that water back. I'm sure he'd appreciate some extra shoulders for the load."
"Pookie has great shoulders!" Gwen points to her familiar.
Chen admires Pookie. "A powerful build proportional to your size," he says to the familiar.
"We'll check on Mudmug, sure," Estel says.
Heading north, they find Mudmug along the road.
"Aw, hey!" Mudmug brightens at the sight of them. "Y'all here to help out? That's mighty swell of you."
Mudmug turns to gaze out over the marsh. "Just look at it: the Gilded Fan, they call it. I heard a lot of good things about the water they got here. Lot of bad things, too. No sayin' what kind of water Chen's gonna be needin', so what say we make him a little sampler platter?" He picks up two empty barrels and props one on each shoulder. "Look for dark, swirlin' pools of water. That'll be the good stuff."
Alysson spots a giant banana in a cart and points. "Banana!"
It's a non-standard unit of measurement, but the banana is about two Alyssons long.
Mudmug grunts at the banana. He's from here, he's used to big fruits.
They follow Mudmug about as he gets attacked by literally everything in Pandaria.
Mudmug occasionally offers questionable commentary. "I'll bet that Chen never made no croc-belly-water beer."
"All right!" Mudmug pats one of his barrels proudly. "This is quite the collection of water we got here, neighbors. With stuff like this, I reckon Chen'll make a brew that really shines! Or maybe a brew that lands someone in the outhouse for a month. I guess we'll have to wait and see!"
"Now." Mudmug balances the barrels carefully one on top of the other. His face is completely hidden from view. "Don't you worry about pickin' ‘em up. I can carry these here barrels. I may not be the handsomest pandaren, or the smartest, or any fun to be around in the slightest, but you better believe I'm stronger than any dang mushan beast! I'mma just need you to tell me where I'm goin'."
"Sure," Estel says. "Just follow us. We'll steer you around rocks."
"I'm trustin' you not to lead me into any rivers or animal mouths or nothin'!" Mudmug says cheerfully from behind his barrels.
Estel steers Mudmug around a group of goats.
After some careful uphill navigation, they reach Chen.
"Told you I was strong!" says Mudmug proudly. "Didn't drop one drop!"
"Ah!" says Chen. "Excellent! The water is here. I am going to speak to the innkeeper and the people in the marketplace here about setting up my little ‘brewery' and getting started. Come back in a few days and see how it's coming along!"
Gwen giggles. "Very strong, Mudmug!"
"Go- good job Mudmug!" Iphi beams. "Let us know if we can h- help in any other way, Chen. I can grow spices if you'd like!"
"Cheers," Estel says, and heads for the inn, waving her team along.
The inn's name is The Lazy Turnip. Just thought you should know. It's a good name.
The green dragon turtle sniffs Alysson as he passes.
Lord Cuddlems throws daggers at the dragon turtle with his eyes. Friend.
"Alright," Estel says, clapping her hands. Her Shadowform fades. "Good work, yeah? Take a rest, we're done for today."
"I'm going to get a bed at the inn," Gwen says. "I loved being back with the squad, but I should get some extra rest all the same."
Estel nods to Gwen. "For sure."
"Rest w- well! Let us know if we can he- help you!" Iphi beams.
Alysson beams at everyone. "Until next time, then! I'm gonna go play with some virmen!"
"Okay," Estel says. "You stay safe, yeah?"
Alysson nods and races out of the inn.
"Later, later!" Estel waves.
Lord Cuddlems follows Alysson. He will protecc.
"Bring him back to a river on your way, okay?" Iphi asks Alysson with a smile.
"Okay!" Alysson calls back.